The title of today's column pertains to Dragon Warrior 7. I cannot convey
to you people how much that statement makes me want to play the game. In other news, I have now posted
rants on two consecutive weekends! Woo!
Between doing that, getting through all the columns I missed on vacation, and finding a day job, it's
been a DARN productive weekend.

How was your weekend?
Anyway, I have a list of random questions that I hope you can answer or
comment on

1. Do you think Nintendo will ever make a Zelda game for more mature
gamers. (i. e. Character design, story, language, gameplay) Will they
ever make it an ACTUAL rpg?

Googleshng:
You know, that's really 5 different questions, so I'll answer them as such.
Mature character designs? Since the primary characters in the series were all designed around 15 years
ago and haven't changed since, I'm going to assume what you actually mean by that is visual style. In
which case it still depends what you mean. If you mean make a game with dark and disturbing visuals, they've
already done it a few times. Take for example, the bosses in tOoT. If you mean will there ever be a game
in which Zelda wears nothing but a skimpy bikini and has the sort of chest that causes severe back pain,
then I'm pretty darn sure the answer is no.
Mature story? Again, that could mean a few things. If you mean a story in which the aforementioned slutty
Zelda is at some point wearing LESS than a skimpy bikini, the answer is a definate no. If you mean a
serious thought provoking story that changes the way one looks at the world, that's never been present
in ANY video game, because it simply isn't the right medium. There are countless other things you could
mean by that, where my answers would run the full range of yes no and already be done, but to most of them
the answer is probably no since the Zelda games are exploration/puzzle/action driven, not story driven.
Mature language: While there's an off chance that be this you mean an extremely large vocabulary, you
probably mean profanity, which if you want to get technical is honestly pretty immature under most
circumstances. In either case, snowball's chance of happening.
Mature gameplay quite frankly does not exist. A game can be easy, a game can be hard, and games aimed
at extremely little kids tend to be easy, but it really isn't possible to create gameplay specifically
intended for older players. As a general rule though, every year the average game just gets easier and
easier, so you'll probably never see a Zelda game harder than the NES ones.
Finally, will Nintendo ever make an actual Zelda RPG? I wouldn't put it past them. There's TWO RPGs with
Mario in them, and he doesn't even use a sword!

2. Looking at the release of games in the next year, Which system should
I buy? XBox, Gamecube or PS2?

Googleshng:
I've gone out of my way to find one, and NOBODY in their right mind is planning to buy an X-Box. The reason
for that being that quite frankly, there isn't a single worthwhile exclusive game for it. Both the PSX2
and the GameCube however have a number of droolworthy titles lined up. So, unless you want to gamble on
the Gamecube completely blowing the PSX2 out of the water and everything being ported over to it, chances
are you'll be stuck buying both. Don't say you can't afford to by the way, since even if you only have
the money for one now, you can always get the other used for dirt cheap down the line. That being said,
I would recommend getting the Gamecube first because there's at least half a dozen games coming out for
it that I'm looking forward to before even one hits the PSX2. Of course, none of the RPGs I'm looking
forward to on EITHER system have US release dates at this time, so to go by my opinion you'd have to
have the same taste in action and adventure games as I do... and whatever genre Pikmin fits into. Even
if you don't though, it's cheaper, a better piece of hardware, and has a WONDERFUL controller design,
so odds are you'll still find some games to play on it. At this point though, if you want a new system
to play RPGs on, you should just get a Gameboy Advance. It's SWARMING with upcoming RPGs. Plus it's only
$100, so you can get yourself some more games with the extra cash.

3. Which game(s) are you anticipating the most in the next few years?
Me, Chrono Trigger 3 although it hasn't even been confirmed yet.

Googleshng:
In no particular order: Pikmin, Resident Evil 0, WarCraft 3, Shadow Hearts, and if I'm allowed to say
it, Hoshigami. There's a lot more, but those are the ones I know the most about at this time, and the
more I know, the more I tend to drool.

4. What's your fav rpg, rpg villan, rpg hero(ine), rpg moment?

Googleshng:
While none of these answers are concrete, right now I'll have to say... RPG: Skies of Arcadia, Moment:
the scene when your party is split up in Skies of Arcadia, Hero: Myau from Phantasy Star, Heroine: Koudelka
(from Koudelka but I'd think that's a given), and Villain: Kefka from FF6. Honorable mention goes to
Magus for spiffiest turncoat. A surprising 50-50 split between Overwerks and people who at one point worked
for Square, although had I answered the question as posed it would have been 3 to 1. You know, if I could
get everyone reading this column to play the Phantasy Star series from the beginning and Skies of Arcadia,
it would SERIOUSLY shut me up. 8)

And I can't believe people didn't know what you mean by "Final fantasy 7
enough said". Obviously you meant the disturbing part of the Honey bee
in... I was traumatized as a kid at the part 4 years ago...

- Lyle J. A. Smith II
NB, Canada
Lyle@stratics.com

Googleshng:
That, the rest of Wall Market, and the fact that you can go on a date with Barret.

and on THAT note...

Hey Goog. Dude, the other day I was driving home from the mall and we
passed this Lutheran church near it. On their sign, next to and slightly
under the cross picture, in big, blue letters, it said "WELS". I found this
pretty disturbing. Anyways, I only have one Q. I'm considering getting a
Dreamcast now before they stop makin em (when is that?). I was just curious
what it is about Skies Of Arcadia that makes it such a great game, since
I've never seen it, but its one of the games I'm thinkin bout the DC for.
Thnx.

~~Ryuujin, the Dragon Sage

Googleshng:
Now that I'd like to see a picture of. Anyway though, it's rather hard to put into words what makes
Skies of Arcadia such a wonderful game. Aside from every individual aspect of the game being masterfully
done (setting, character designs, game mechanics, music, etc.) it has an intangable quality to it that
really makes you love every second of the game. The best way I can describe it is that every single insignificant
little detail of the game gives the impression that somebody poured their heart and soul into making it
just right. I wish I could put that in less poetic terms, but that's the best I can do, and everyone I
know who's played the game has even more trouble putting that into words. In any case though, considering the fact
that everyone I know who's played it feels the same way as I do about it, and trust me, I know some REALLY
jaded people, I can say with near certainty that you won't regret getting a DC for SoA's sake. Especially
considering how dirt cheap they are now.

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar too

I should probably have directed this one to LordBrian, as I found the letter
in question in his 8.27.01 column, but your email was closer. Anyway...

GoblinKing said that Level-3 in the original Legend of Zelda is shaped like
a swastika. There is an example of the kind of ignorant whose neck I would
like to wrap my claws around and apply slowly-increasing pressure. Not too
long ago similar ignorance was directed at a Japanese Golbat card in the
Pokemon Trading Card Game that 'apparently' had a swastika design.

This symbol is known as 'manji.' I am unaware of its significance, but it
surely isn't an overt gesture of the ultimate evil.

I apologize if this wasted your time, but I needed to say something.

Jax Mandrake

Googleshng:
A couple of people jumped all over this one. That's the thing about simple little symbols. More than one
group is going to come up with signifigance for them. Swastikas and pentagrams in particular were both stolen
pre-existing symbols before being stolen by unsavory types and given their current reputations, plus groups
halfway around the world use them in totally different contexts. Other examples include the spiral pattern
used for the Dreamcast logo, and the traditional smiley face: =) which looks like the katakana for both shi
and tsu (as some may remember from my having it wrong in my sig pic for a while).

Minor CC spoiler, of sorts.

Hey Goog-

Sorry about this second question, but I forgot to include it into my other
email. But anyway... is there a way where you can keep Harle as a permanent
member in Chrono Cross? She, besides Kid and Glenn, was my favorite
character. Also who were your favorite three members in Chrono Cross?

GodEmperor

Googleshng:
You can make Harle a permanent member of your party the same way as anyone else. Go win while you have
her. Next time you play, she'll join up at the same time as everyone else you got on previous plays through
the game.

Allow my personage to behold the currency.

Hi Google

I foget if you play MMORPG's or not, but since a MMORPG is still a (type of) RPG, I'll ask you .

Ok, is there any quick way to get money in UO? I'm trying to save up for a castle, but it's not looking good. I don't mean quick as in cheap or cheating, just anyway to get large amounts of money in one quest/action/whatever.

Oh, and what was your Graphicless graphics idea? I would like to try that.

-Nysomin

Googleshng:
I avoid MMORPGs like the plague, but were I in your shoes, the first thing I would do would be to find
someone who's filthy stinking rich, and strike up a deal with them. Something along the lines of, say,
you being their personal servant for a nice salary. You run magic items back to town to sell for'em, spy
on his enemies, and things like that, and in return, he gives you the occassional big wad of cash. Since
a realistic economy is one of the things they wanted that game to have, that sort of arrangement should
sit just fine with your personal ethics, and if it doesn't, just promise yourself that once you're rolling
in the dough, you'll hire a servant of your own to balance things out. As for "Graphicless graphics" as
you put it, assuming you're refering to the graphics engine for my game, well, hold out a while longer
and I should have some screens to demonstrate it with. Just don't ask me to define "a while".

Gateway games

I have just a simple question. I am trying to get my friend into RPG's, and I know that he'll come to love them if he would only give them a chance. I don't want to turn him off RPG's by giving him one that's boring, or is too hard. His favorite game types are FPS, and sports games. Anyways, my current RPG collection includes, Lunar 1, Lunar 2, Grandia, Star Ocean 2, FF Chronicles, and possibly Chrono Cross, once my store drops the price. Which one do you think is the best for a beginner to start with? Thanks Google!

Googleshng:
Honestly speaking? I wouldn't recommend any of those games. If I were in your shoes, I would ease them
in with a nice Action/RPG like Secret of Mana, then hit Paper Mario, maybe Valkyrie Profile, then dive
right in to a first rate game like FF6, Skies of Arcadia, or maybe Lunar if he isn't big on graphics.
Not Xenogears though. That's seriously for the hardcore RPGamer only. Out of what you have though,
you should probably go with FF4. It's not as dull as Grandia, as hard as Lunar, or as atypical as Chrono
Cross. Chrono Trigger would be even better, but I'm told the load times on the PSX port are rather nasty.
Actually, now that I think about it, maybe Chrono Trigger WOULD be the safer bet. Better graphics, anime
cut scenes wedged in, and it's a bit more action oriented. Oh, and I really should mention since I started
this reply with the word honestly that I personally would never try to get someone into RPGs in the first
place, but that's mostly just because I don't know anyone who doesn't play them already.

Quickies

I understand that Breath of Fire is to be released on the Game Boy Advanced. Do you know if Playstation is letting the Breath of Fire series slip by them, or is Nintendo simply re-publishing their old hit games?

You just mentioned two companies that have nothing at all to do with the issue. Capcom is rereleasing
the BoF games on the GBA, because THEY want to cash in on their old hits. In a certain sense, that's
what Capcom does with about 90% of what it releases actually, but they do a good job of it, so I'm not
complaining.

I for one have much respect for Miyamoto (AKA God) for ignoring fan criticism and for creating the game in his own design. Anyone who choses a form of style over what may produce the most income is a true artist.

Much respect to Shig

Glad to know I'm not the only one. Come to think of it, if you take a look at this week's poll, a whopping
65% of you are looking at the new Zelda with an open mind. It's probably really a good deal more than
that if you take into account that demographically there tends to be a big overlap between doom and gloomers
and freaks who run around between 12 computers voting multiple times, or that the thousands of people
who come to RPGamer and don't hit the poll most likely all fall into the don't care category.

Someone else, like you yourself, better be covering this. But just in case
no one is, LordBrian claimed yesterday that Nintendo has never released an MA
game. Considering your sidebar says you're playing one now (Conker), care to
comment?

I haven't read yesterday's column yet so I don't know the context, but Rare's a second party company,
and they published both CBFD and Perfect Dark, which might help your case... bah, need to read those
when I wake up.

Its the Googster, Google-mister!
Have you ever randomly selected a video game at a store and bought it?
-Princess Sara, live from the realm of nothingness

That's how I got every NES game I own, except for those randomly selected by OTHERS as presents.

There's a bunch of 'em before you hit the Forest Temple in Ocarina. Other than that I agree with your list wholeheartedly. I think this new Zelda could be the best one ever..and has everyone forgotten about the DARK world? Tsk.

-Kruncha

A couple people pointed this out, but those don't count since they don't act or look like Moblins
should. One person also pointed out that all the handheld Zeldas have them. Still, there hasn't been a
properly realized moblin on a console since the NES, that should count for SOMETHING, right?

The Last Laugh:

Before I crawl off to bed, let me just point out that the person who was complaining that I never reply
to their letters while I was on vacation that evidently, said letters get eaten by gremlins, since I've
never seen that name in my inbox.

Googleshng "Time to wander around... AIMLESSLY!" @rpgamer.com
Oh, and yes, I DO realize that my response to that first letter implied that working for Microsoft was
a mental illness. 8)